Automatic fire-alarm



W. J. LUSE.

AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM.

APPLICATlON FILED NOV.20, 1918- 1 344, 70 1 Patented J une 29, 1920.

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AUTOMATIC FIRE-ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1920.

Application filed November 20, 1918. Serial No. 268,293.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I WILLIAM J. LUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Automatic Fire-Alarm, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is an automatic fire alarm, and, speaking generally, the object of the invention is to notify a central station, 6. 9., a telephone oflice, that a fire has broken out in a particular buildin wherein the apparatus of this invention as been installed.

From a'structural standpoint, the invention, in its eneric aspect, embodies means, adapted to he operated when the temperature reaches a predetermined degree, to operate an alarm, or give a signal, and, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the signal is automatically communicated to a central station.

In the preferred, and more specific form, the invention embodies a chain or cable which supports a weight in elevated position, said chain or cable being provided with a fusible link which becomes disrupted upon the temperature reaching the predetermined melting point of the fusible solder of the link, whereupon the weight falls and performs two functions, namely; it releases a brake on a phonograph positioned in proximto a telephone and elevates the receiver it of the phone, whereby the special message.

on the phonograph record is automatically transmitted to the transmitter of the phone and thence to the central phone station. The central station can then notify the fire department. Means is preferably provided whereby, at a subsequent period, dependent on the melting of a fusible link, the solder of which melts at a hi her temperature than that of the first link, 51o telephone receiver is restored to its normal, hung-u position.

Features of the invention ot er than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingis.

In 'the accompanyin drawings, have illustrated one practice? form of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

The drawing is a perspective view of the complete apparatus, positioned within a casing, a portion of which latter is broken away.

cferrin to the drawings, 1 is a telephone, posltioned, for convenience, on a shelf or bracket 2, the receiver being designated 3 and the receiver support 4, the latter being associated with a ring, or equivalent device 5, for the purpose hereinafter described. A phonograph sound box is shown at 6, the record being designated 7 the reproducer 8 and the tone arm 9. The phonograph is provided with a brake or stop, in the form of a pin 10, extendible into a de ression in the record support. The soun box has a suitable horn or tube 11 extending therefrom and leading to the mouth of the receiver of telephone 1.

A main chain or cable 12, fixed at one end, as indicated at 13, is provided with a plurality of spaced fusible links 14, disruptable at a predetermined temperature, 6. 9., 145 degrees F. The other end of the cable is attached to the outer end of the brake or pin 10 on the phonograph. Cable 12 extends over guide pulleys 15 as shown, and at one point in the cable, preferably near its lower end, is suspended a weight 16. A branch chain or cable 17 extends upwardl from the main cable, thence over guide pu leys 18, mounted on bracket 19, whereupon its end is attached to ring 5 on receiver support 4. This branch cable is provided with a fusible link 20, the temperature. of disruption of which is somewhat hi her than that of fusible links 14; e. 9., it might be 160, F. The reason for the difference in temperature will be explained later.

The apparatus described is preferably housed in a casing 21, in the interest of attractiveness and protection, although it will be understood that said casing does not necessarily function with the fire alarm apparatus. The record 7 may be made of steel, to render it fireroof, or, if an ordinary record is emplo e it may be protected by a fireroof meta casing, not shown.

From t e foregoing description, the operation of the ap aratus in sounding an alarm will be rea 'ly understood, but may be briefly described as follows. Assuming the telephone to be in normal, non-operating osition, the phonograph wound up and the rake in o erative position, a rise in temperature o the room or other location in which the apparatus may be placed, to a temperature at which the links 14 disrupt, will cause the weight 16 to drop, thereby exertin a downward pull on that end of the maln cable 12 which is attached to the brake 10 of the phonograph, thereb releasing the brake and setting the p onograph in operation. The downward movement of weight 16 simultaneously exerts a downward pull on branch cable 17, thereb elevatin the receiver support 4 throu h the medium of ring 5, and thus putting't e phonograph in communication with the telephone through the horn or pipe 11. The result is that the notation on the phonoraph record 7 is communicated to the local telephone 1, through the horn 11, and thereupon transmitted to the central station. The record 7 will be provided with an appropriate notation to indicate that a fire has broken out in the location where the apparatus is installed, such as A fire has broken out in room 1009, 277 Broadway. This notation may be duplicated on the record, so as to cause a repetition thereof as often as desired. In the mean time, as the temperature rises, the fusible link 20 in branch cable 17 becomes disrupted, thereby freeing the branch cable from the action of weight 16, with the result that the upward pull on receiver suport 4 ceases, whereupon the receiver drops y gravity, thereby shutting off phone' communication with the central station. In the mean time, however, central station is presumed to have notified the fire department, or, as will be obvious, if special wiring is rovided, a particular fire department mi ht e notified directly.

t will be obvious that slight changes may be made in the apparatus described, such as the substitution of equivalents, or that parts of the apparatus specified might be used either alone or in other relations, without necessarily em loying them all in conjunction, without epartlng from the spirit or substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic fire alarm, a cable adapted to hold a weight in suspension, :1 fusible link positioned in said ,cable, whereby when the link is disrugted by heat the weight falls, a phonograp a te ephone in proximit thereto, means whereby the falling of t e weightreleases a brake on the phonogra 11, thereby permitting it to operate, an simultaneously lifts the receiver of the phone whereby t e message of the phono aph is sent into the phone and means for su sequently restoring the receiver to hung-up position.

an automatic fire alarm, a cable ada ted to hold a wei ht in suspension, a fusi le link positioned in said cable, whereby when the link is disru ted b heat the weight falls, a phonograp a te ephone in proximit thereto, means whereby the falling of t e weight releases a brake on the phonogra h, thereby permitting it to operate, an simultaneously lifts the receiver of the phone whereby the message of the phono raph is sent into the phone, means for en sequently restorin the receiver to hung-up position, in combination with a fire protecting casing for the phonograph.

3. In an automatic fire alarm, a cable adapted to hold a wei ht in suspension, a fusible link positioned in said cable, whereby when the link is disru ted b heat the weight falls, a phonograp a te ephone in proximit thereto, means whereby the falling of t e weight releases a brake on the phonograph, thereby permitting it to operate, and, simultaneously lifts the receiver of the phone whereby the message of the phono aph is sent into the phone, means for en sequently restoring the receiver to hung-up position, in combination with a fire protecting casin for the phonograph and a sound transmission conduit extendlng from the phonograph to the telephone.

In an automatic fire alarm, a cable adapted to hold a weight in suspension, a fusible link positioned in said cable, whereby when the link is disrupted by heat the weight falls, at phonograph, a telephone in proximit thereto, meanswhereby the falling of t e weight releases a brake on the phonogra h, thereby permitting it to operate, an simultaneously lift the receiver of the phone whereby the message of the phonograph is sent into the phone, and means, cooperating with a second fusible link, disruptable at a higher temperature than the first link, for restoring the telephone receiver to hun -up position.

5. In an automatic re alarm, a telephone transmitter associated with a communicating current leading to the central ofiice, an

audible alarm co 'perating with the telephone transmitter, means for normally restraining the operations of the audible alarm, and maintaining the telephone inoperative except in the event of fire, means operable by a predetermined rise in temperature for rendering the telephone transmitter operative and releasing the audible alarm for operation, and means operable upon a further rise in temperature for restoring the telephone transmitter to inoperative condition.

6. In an automatic fire alarm, normally held in restraint, means operable upon a predetermined rise of temperature to release the alarm and allow the same to operate, means for transmittin the alarm to a central station, said means ing normally an alarm,

maintained inoperative by the means which restrains the alarm, but adapted to be rendered operative simultaneously with the releasing of the alarm, and means operable upon a. further rise in temperature for restoring the alarm transmitting means to inoperative condition.

7. In an automatic fire alarm, means controlled by a predetermined rise in temperature for transmittin an alarm, and means controlled by a still iigher rise in temperature for restoring the alarm to inoperative condition.

8. In an automatic fire alarm, means for transmitting an alarm to a distant station, means for normally withholding the alarm, means operable upon a predetermined rise in temperature for releasing the alarm and allowing its transmission, and means operable upon a still further rise in temperature for restoring the alarm to inoperative condition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to his specification.

WILLIAM J. LUSE. 

